Direct Impingement LWRC? It’s here.

For many years now, fans of LWRC quality and innovation have been asking for a Direct gas Impingement (DI), legacy style operating system. There are many who appreciate the LWRC (L-dub) attention to detail, high grade materials and unique manufacturing but dislike pistons for one reason or another. Despite the company clouting the piston system as superior to DI (an assertion I agree with, if you are shooting a shorty and suppressed), they have apparently been listening to their customer base. Today they answered the request.

Members of the Maryland based company were obviously excited and proud today at SHOT 2014 while telling us about the new rifle. Based on the IC carbine, the new DI rifle has a full ambi lower, ambi charging handle, ambi sling plate, and L-dub’s new buttstock.

The bolt carrier group, based off their piston bolt group, is the most unique part. The underside of the carrier is undercut, allowing grit and debris to drop out and away from the bolt and cam. The “gas Key” is machined directly into the carrier, with a separate tube threaded and pinned into the carrier. The separate mating piece will connect with the standard milspec gastube, making it easy to replace or repair if needed. To make it even better, LWRC will be offering the DI bolt carrier for sale separately, so you can use their nickel boron coated, full auto BCG directly into any standard DI carbine, or use it for your next build!

The rifle is being offered in two configurations, in all the standard colors already offered in the catalog. The first is the SPR-Modular rail rifle, which has a cold hammer forged 16” spiral fluted barrel. The barrel features L-dub’s slotted, scalloped and threaded forearm, which has shaved a lot of weight off the front of the carbine. The Picatinny rail version differs only with style of forearm, and uses a lighter non fluted contour barrel. Both forearms are interchangeable, so if you regret going full Pic rail, you will be able to easily swap it out.

Extremely light in both configurations, the SPR/ Modular rail version is weighing in at about 6.2lbs and Picatinny forearm at about 6.4lbs

Both versions will be available soon in both 5.56 and 6.8 spc. The price? You are looking at direct impingement LWRCI carbine, for around $1,500- to $1,600 MSRP depending which options you choose. That is a whole lot of gun for the money.